With “Return To The Red Planet”, Rick Wakeman returns to Mars – and delivers one of the most ambitious works of his career. Created between August 2025 and January 2026, the album combines progressive virtuosity with planetary research: Wakeman immersed himself intensively in mission data, scientific reports and current images of Mars before writing a single note. The result is an instrumental suite that transforms ancient lakes, massive canyon systems, dust storms and geological ages of the Red Planet into sounds.

The album was recorded with Wakeman’s English Rock Ensemble in a full band line-up – bassist Lee Pomeroy, guitarist Dave Colquhoun, drummer Adam Falkner and singer Mollie Marriott (daughter of the legendary Steve Marriott) played together at Decoy Studios to capture the spontaneity and energy of progressive rock directly. The music was first created as keyboard sketches at Nursery Studios, further developed at Decoy Studios, mixed by Toby Wood and refined by producer Erik Jordan. Mastering was done by renowned engineer Simon Heyworth.

At the heart of the album is “Bowie’s Vision” – a personal tribute to David Bowie, with whom Wakeman shared a close friendship and shared musical history. Wakeman played the iconic piano on Bowie’s “Life on Mars?” and transforms this memory into a haunting instrumental that tells of shared time. The 2-disc edition includes the full studio album on CD as well as a Blu-ray with Dolby Atmos, 5.1 surround sound and high-resolution stereo mixes, plus the documentary “Making of the Return To The Red Planet” and a 20-page booklet.

Tracklist:

Blu-ray:

1. High Resolution Stereo (PCM 2.0 24/48)
2. 5.1 Surround Mix (Dolby Digital & DTS-HD)
3. Dolby Atmos Immersive Mix (Dolby Digital & TrueHD)
4. Making of “Return To The Red Planet” (Documentary)

CD:

1. The Jezero Crater: i. Shenandoah – ii. Hogwallow Flats Pt. 1 – iii. The Yori Pass – iv. Hogwallow Flats Pt. 2
2. Bowie’s Vision
3. Noctis Labyrinthus
4. Noachis Terra (Land of Noah)
5. Witch Hazel Hill
6. Paul’s Bay
7. Martian Dust Devils
8. Medusae Fossae
9. The Epochs of Mars: i. Noachian – ii. Hesperian – iii. Amazonian